8 Legendary Classic Rock Final Encores No One Saw Coming

No artist knows when they have sung their last song. Regardless of age, success, or personal circumstances, every performance offers them a chance to shine. Unless it’s a clearly planned retirement show, musicians often step onto the stage not knowing it will be their last time performing.

For legendary musicians, that final performance is inevitable. Sometimes it’s a touching encore that signals the end of an entire career. Other times, it’s a surprising hit or cover that happens to be the last song they ever perform. Drawing deep meanings from an artist’s final song can be tricky since many don’t expect it to be their last. It might be an accurate summary of their life, or it could mean nothing significant at all.

But there’s always something intriguing about the songs that great musicians choose as their closing number. Most live shows are designed to end with an emotional and memorable finale, but top-tier artists rarely sing their perfect farewell songs as their final goodbye. As you read through the list below, you might feel a sense of what could have been. You may wonder why John Lennon didn’t end with “Imagine” or why Aretha Franklin’s last performance wasn’t “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.” Though the choices might seem odd, they all reveal something about the artist’s mindset at the end of their career.

To highlight those final moments, we’ve compiled eight unique encores from legendary musicians. Some choices may fit perfectly, others might appear strangely touching, and a few are simply odd. Each tells us something about the talented men and women behind the microphone. Here they are, their final songs before the curtain closed for good.

1. David Bowie – “Life On Mars?”

David Bowie was known for his flair and dramatic stage personas, so he could have picked any number of iconic songs for his farewell. Bowie had previously retired his Ziggy Stardust character with a final rendition of “Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide.” Given his expansive career, a final performance of “Space Oddity” or “Heroes” might have seemed fitting, capturing either his spacey, otherworldly allure or his triumphant spirit.

Instead, Bowie chose “Life On Mars?” as his unexpected final farewell during the Fashion Rocks event on September 8, 2005. Accompanied by Arcade Fire and his long-time pianist Mike Garson, Bowie delivered a powerful rendition of this surreal and sweeping ballad from his album “Hunky Dory.” Though he lived for another decade, this would be Bowie’s last time on stage, leaving fans with a performance that showcased his unique artistry and depth.

2. Nirvana (Kurt Cobain) – “Heart-Shaped Box”

1994 was a challenging year for Nirvana, especially for frontman Kurt Cobain. Despite the success of their album “In Utero,” Cobain was deeply troubled. His battle with heroin addiction and the pressures of fame often left him feeling empty and detached during performances. On the nights when he did muster the strength to play, fans cherished every performance, though Cobain’s struggles were evident.

At Nirvana’s final show in Munich, Cobain performed “Heart-Shaped Box,” a raw and reflective track. While many might have preferred hearing “All Apologies” or his haunting cover of Lead Belly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?,” Cobain chose a more aggressive and sorrowful note to end on. This final choice encapsulated his turbulent state of mind, making “Heart-Shaped Box” a poignant yet somber ending to his career.

3. John Lennon – “I Saw Her Standing There”

John Lennon’s final stage performance was set in unusual circumstances. In 1974, Lennon appeared at Madison Square Garden after losing a bet with Elton John about the chart success of his song “Whatever Gets You Thru the Night.” During this show, Lennon wanted to play an upbeat, nostalgic number.

He chose “I Saw Her Standing There,” a song written by his former bandmate Paul McCartney. Announcing it humorously as a tune by his “estranged fiancé,” Lennon delivered a spirited performance. This song, one of the Beatles’ early hits, served as an unexpected yet meaningful final note in Lennon’s live performance history, tying his present back to his groundbreaking past.

4. Janis Joplin – “Summertime”

Janis Joplin was known for her powerful and raw performances. Whether it was the intense screams of “Piece of My Heart” or the heavy blues of “Ball and Chain,” Joplin always left it all on stage. However, during her final concert on August 12, 1970, Joplin took a different route.

She closed the show with a cover of the George Gershwin classic “Summertime” from the musical “Porgy and Bess.” This soft and melancholic rendition was quite unlike her usual explosive encores. Joplin exited the stage as her band continued playing an instrumental piece called “That’s Rock n Roll.” This understated exit was a fittingly poignant end for Joplin, who passed away just months later while finalizing her last album, “Pearl.”

5. The Doors (Jim Morrison) – “The End”

The Doors were notorious for their wild and chaotic performances, often led by the unpredictable Jim Morrison. By the time the band played their final shows at The Warehouse in New Orleans in December 1970, Morrison was battling alcoholism and seemed detached from his music. Their concerts were fraught with unpredictable energy and a sense of unpredictability.

During this last performance, the band attempted several new songs from their upcoming album L.A. Woman, including “Riders on the Storm.” Unfortunately, Morrison’s physical and mental state led to an incoherent performance. The show concluded with a rendition of “The End,” their first epic track. This dramatic piece served as a fitting finale for the band’s live career, sealing their chaotic legacy with an intense and somber farewell.

6. Grateful Dead (Brent Mydland) – “The Weight”

The Grateful Dead had their share of tragic losses, particularly among their keyboard players. After the deaths of Ron “Pigpen” McKernan and Keith Godchaux, Brent Mydland joined the band in 1979, bringing new energy and soulful presence. Mydland’s talent and youth added a spark to the band’s performances, especially with his vocal contributions.

However, Mydland’s struggles with substance abuse caught up with him, leading to his untimely death on July 26, 1990. Just three days earlier, he performed “The Weight” by The Band with the Dead, taking lead on the second verse. His final words on stage, “I gotta go but my friends can stick around,” became hauntingly prophetic, marking a tragic end to his promising career.

7. Aretha Franklin – “Freeway of Love”

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, had an extensive and impressive discography. From the heartfelt “Chain of Fools” to the high-energy “Rock Steady,” Franklin’s performances were always charged with emotional intensity. When she performed at Elton John’s AIDS Foundation gala in 2017, she had many of her iconic hits to choose from.

Surprisingly, Franklin closed the event with “Freeway of Love,” a funky ’80s hit from her comeback album “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” While it’s a lively and enjoyable song, it seemed like an odd choice compared to her more classic hits like “Respect” or “A Natural Woman.” Nonetheless, Franklin delivered the song with her trademark passion, making it a memorable final performance.

8. Leonard Cohen – “Save the Last Dance for Me”

Leonard Cohen’s final concert in December 2013 didn’t end with one of his most famous songs. Instead, Cohen chose to close with “Save the Last Dance for Me,” a song he had already performed earlier that night. Many might have expected him to end with “Hallelujah” or another of his signature songs, but he opted for this tender classic.

Cohen’s choice to perform this sentimental song as his final encore added a layer of emotional depth to his last show. Though it wasn’t his biggest hit, it resonated deeply with the audience, reflecting Cohen’s nuanced and heartfelt approach to music, even in his final moments on stage.